Asthma UK helpline head Sonia Munde said: “We are deeply concerned about the toxic air from Saharan dust that Hurricane Ophelia has churned up, as this could pose a severe risk for the 5.4million people in the UK who have asthma.

Winds picking up dust and particles in the air could trigger potentially fatal asthma attacks.

“When a similar dust storm happened in April 2014, Asthma UK found a third of people told us they’d had an asthma attack as a result of the pollution and 84% said they had used their blue inhaler more than usual.

“Everyone with asthma must make sure they take their reliever inhaler (usually blue) everywhere with them and continue to manage their asthma with their preventer inhaler (usually brown).

“If you have an asthma attack and are unable to control it, call 999. For further information and support visit asthma.org.uk/Saharan-dust.”

Dr Dave Reynolds from The Weather Channel said winds were strong over Iberia on Sunday, which has resulted in dust from there blown to the UK by the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia.

“Some of the dust may be particulates from the fires, although I think regular fine-grained dust would account for the majority,” he said.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

“This is a result of Ophelia to the west of Portugal (on Sunday) and high pressure over the western Mediterranean, although it doesn’t necessarily need a hurricane to do this (a regular, north Atlantic low would be just as good - so long as all the other conditions are met).

“Furthermore, and importantly, the cold front of Ophelia moved across southern Britain this morning and was very weak - this meant there was not much rain to wash the dust out.